Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-07-12
A QUESTION OLE WATER

The Oakland water supply is very i'm
pure. Whoever reads the Oakland news
budgets in the San Francisco press must
become convinced of this truth. From the
local papers he will not CLEAN so much in
formation on the subject, though the bit
ternesS of complaint even there finds ex-
preston occasionally. But we have it from
reliable sources outside of these that the
city supply Of water at Oakland is exceed
ingly repulsive in its ofiensiveness. There
does not appear to be any source nearer
than the foothills or the Sierra Ne
vada range from which Oakland can
procure good water by gravitation. There
may be beneath the soil near that city an
everlasting supply of pure water, but only
seldom are cities furnished by lifting it
from such sources. One resident of Oak
land, whose statements are reliable, if a
reputation for truth goes for anything, tells
us that the filthiness of the water there is
something terrible in its menace to health
and Its ot1ense to the senses of smell and
taste.
Oaklands domestic affairs do not of ne
cessity concern US, but the water question
there suggests that so large and preten-
tious city as that ought to be able to Or
ganize an effort, in connection with other
communities, for the bringing of pure, clear
water from the eternal supplies of the
mountains. Here are sources inexhausti-
BILE from which water can be carried by
pipe lines, not exceeding $50 miles in
length, across the great valley and to the
sea, at an expense that scarcely anywhere
else would be considered as any sort of an
obstacle. There is water enough in the
mountains which can be secured that, by
a single series Of pipe lines, would supply
Oakland, Stockton aud Sacramento and all
intermediate towns of any considerable
Importance, with all the water these places
viii need for the next ten years, and prob
ably twenty.
Why the possibility of working out a
scheme of such benefcence and moneyed
profit does not command the capital and
set on the ingenuity of these cities. passes
the wonder point. With clear, pure water
from sources in the higher attitudes fed by
SHOWS and springs, piped down the foot
hills and across the valley, furnishing all
needed for domestic service, and respond
ing to the demand for cheap motive power.
there would come blessings to the whole
central region that the imagination can
scarcely over-estimate. Sacramento needs
clear, pure water-from whatever source
matters not, and by whatever agency we
care moi, so long as the city can get it at
It's gates pure, clear and level with the
demands of health, carriage by pipe lines.
taste and cleanliness.
Unfortunately there is no scheme on foot
with hot intent of furnishing the valley
towns with plenty of good, clear water
under strong pressure. Would that there
were; would that capital and self-interest
were so welded and directed as to get I'M
and push 10 consummation some scheme
of the kind Certainly the people would
hold the whip-hand, as they could buy the
water or net, and therefore no one could
be harmed by the men who might assault
us with clear. pure water for the stomach's
sake, and .ifiieient pipe pressure for mo-
tive power. The only fear is that we will
have to wait year after year vet these
many years before some beaefcent con-
Spiracy develops to do the valley cities the
ines.imable good of bringing 20 them
pure. clear water Bis If Oakland, Stock
ton, Sacramento and intermediate towns
would put their heads together on this
subject, something might be accomplished i
before the adult generation Of to-day has [
forever passed away.